BGC welcomes Snapchat opt-out for gambling ads

Snapchat is giving users in the UK the option to opt out of seeing gambling ads.

UK.- The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed a decision by the social media platform Snapchat to allow users in the UK to opt out from seeing gambling adverts.

Snapchat worked with the BGC last year to develop the idea of the opt-out, giving users more control over the ads they see.

Snapchat has met the requirements of the BGC’s updated Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, which obliges BGC members to make sure that social media ads are targeted at consumers aged at least 25 unless a platform can prove that ads can be reliably targeted at over 18s.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “This is yet more evidence of our commitment to raising standards in the regulated industry. I welcome this move by Snapchat and I would urge all social media and search platforms to provide the ability for users to opt out of viewing betting adverts.

‘The regulated betting and gaming industry is determined to promote safer gambling, unlike the unsafe and growing online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are commonplace among BGC members.”

Snapchat UK general manager Ed Couchman said: “It has always been important to us that our community is able to influence the types of adverts they see on Snapchat.

“It’s fantastic to roll this change out and we’re grateful to have partners in the BGC who are doing vital work to ensure this industry continues to grow and evolve with consumers at the heart.”

Earlier in the year, the BGC released new rules against its members’ adverts appearing in football clubs’ social media posts. It recently highlighted a 47 per cent drop in the number of betting ads shown on TV during the Euro 2020 group stage, largely due to its members’ whistle-to-whistle ban.

The industry group has called for the creation of a new gambling ombudsman in the UK to help deal with customer complaints.

Last week, the BGC criticised Scotland’s decision to impose a midnight curfew on casinos.